Norway signs agreement with Cyprus on EEA and Norway Grants

Under the EEA and Norway Grants scheme, Norway and Cyprus will be cooperating on projects aimed at supporting the development of local communities, with a particular focus on water scarcity, public health, services for disadvantaged groups, and digitalisation in the cultural sector.

'I am very pleased that we will be continuing our cooperation with Cyprus in a range of areas, including public health and services for disadvantaged groups. Water scarcity will also be a key issue in the current period. The EEA and Norway Grants are helping to enhance our already good relations with Cyprus,' said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Astrid Bergmål signed the agreement in Nicosia on behalf of Norway. Minister of Finance Makis Keravnos signed on behalf of Cyprus.

Approximately NOK 209 million (EUR 17.6 million) has been allocated to Cyprus for the current period. Norway will provide around 97 % of that amount. The remainder will be provided by Iceland and Liechtenstein. The funding period formally ends in 2028, but project funds may be disbursed up to the end of April 2031.

Reducing social and economic disparities

The aim of Norway's funding under the EEA and Norway Grants scheme is to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe. In addition, the scheme helps to enhance cooperation between Norway and the beneficiary states. Fifteen countries qualify to receive funding under the EEA and Norway Grants scheme.

Agreements are drawn up for each beneficiary country that set out a portfolio of programmes to be implemented and specify the partners that will cooperate on programme implementation. The agreement with Cyprus is the sixth agreement for the current funding period to be signed with a beneficiary country.

In addition to the individual agreements with each beneficiary state, a separate fund has been set up to support civil society in the beneficiary states. This funding is administered independently of the authorities in each individual country. The process of selecting a fund operator for civil society funding in Cyprus will take place in the autumn.